Perceptual Differences between Novice and Professional Music Theater Singers

Research examining contemporary commercial music styles of singing has increased significantly over the last 10 years. While acoustic analysis has helped determine which characteristics define various vocal genres, a discrepancy still exists in how those acoustic characteristics are perceived, described, and evaluated. The current study recorded seven novice and four professional musical theater singers performing belt, legit, and mix vocal samples. Novice singers were defined as first- and second-year students in an undergraduate musical theater program, while professional singers were defined as having played at least one major role in a music theater production in regional Equity theaters. Five regional Equity casting directors listened to the recordings and rated each sample on the basis of style (belt versus legit) and tone quality (brassy versus fluty and bright versus dark). Results were compared across experience level (novice/professional) and pitch. Additionally, relationships between style (belt/legit) and quality (brassy/fluty, bright/dark) were examined. The statistically significant correlation emerged between the raters' perceived singing style and the singers' indicated singing style. Auditors identified the style (belt/legit) more reliably for the professional singers than for novice singers, and ratings of other qualities varied significantly between raters. The singers were successfully able to produce voicing styles that matched the perceptual expectations of the casting directors. Not surprisingly, professional singers were somewhat more successful in this regard than were the novices. There appears to be little consensus among the auditors, however, about which acoustical qualities define a belt, mix, or legit style.